Another Black Eye For Chasers?

[rdale]

And the fix is SO simple... I assume pulling off on the edge of the roadway is illegal in most states, but I'm sure that's not something the police would care about.

But it does provide a way to kick you out, and standing in the middle of the road is quite the open advertisement to PD!

 

[Justin E. Reed]

SO FRECKIN GLAD that the SE U.S. has not the best chase terrain for once. Keeps alot of people at bay, but if you know where to be and the topography and all that, you can get incredible views. Especially in broad river valleys or basins. Somewhat descent terrain is the SE part of the Nashville Basin, where Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Shelbyville are. Theres a good bit of flat land in Rutherford County(my home county) that is very chaseable, and you can use the knobs and hills to your viewing advantage. Good luck to all those in the Plains, its only going to get more congested.

 

[rdale]

I don't think terrain has anything to do with it... If the heart of severe weather was the southeast, chasers would be there.

 

[Tony Cook]

I'd say terrain has at least some bearing on my decision whether or not to chase a given setup. I am much more apt to drive 500 miles to the TX panhandle than I am to the Arkansas Ozarks, all other parameters being equal.

TonyC

 

[bill mudd]

It's apparent that in 5 years there will be MORE chasers vying for the same storms.
So the 200 could become 400, no?
Five years ago WAS there 100 there? I dunno know - probably not.
You cant deny it - the numbers dont look good, there are more and more every year.

Then what? MORE road BLOCKS? Probably, if they can beat you to it, yes.
"You can pass here if you are a student, ect...." (and the early ones bag the storms by beating the block/closures).

So itll be one more factor besides weither or not the cap breaks! Itll be " have they closed the road yet?" and the radars will show "road closures" right next to hail size.

Weither this article was written right or wrong or whatever TIMES ARE A CHANGIN. Those 200 showed up for a non weekend event, imagine if it was a weekend? There would have been more, NOT less, NO?

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I'd say terrain has at least some bearing on my decision whether or not to chase a given setup. I am much more apt to drive 500 miles to the TX panhandle than I am to the Arkansas Ozarks, all other parameters being equal.

TonyC

Same here. As close as I live to the Arkansas border, I never have and never will chase in Arkansas.

 

[Justin E. Reed]

Also left this out, its a little more populated and forests, lots and lots of trees. But its not that bad, you can actually catch descent storms in the SE, maybe not the bombs of the Plains, but hey, we see our good share. Only those that know the SE, quite experienced, and even want to, could ans should chase the SE. Just stay away forom the Ozars, Appalachians, Cumberland Plateau, and Florida. Our storms are only trumped by our people, I think everyone should visit at some point IMO.

 

[rdale]

Not to stray off target - but if you're saying that climatologically the southeast got all the big storm systems and the midwest just had the periodic events, you'd stay focused on the midwest and miss 75% of the big ones because of terrain?

 

[Brian Stertz]

I was making reference to the fact that US 283 was being mentioned as being "plumb plugged up". It was not plumb plugged up. Sure there was a 10 on the chaser convergence parameter there but plugged up is a huge stretch. I remember the days when seeing 1-2 other chasers was an oddity....now factor that by 50 to 100 and that does mean more traffic. I guess what needed to be presented in that article was a second side of things, and certainly more factual items and less off the cuff/heat of the moment type of reactions. I guess once again the chase ethics/resonsibility hornet's nest once again has had a rock thrown at it. The hopes are that chasers can act as respectfully and responsibly as possible, and that LE and EM folks can chill out. Everybody has their own claim to stake while chasing but it's the method to the madness that starts and gets the fire roaring.

 

[Justin E. Reed]

No bombs as in explosive thunderstorms that get outta control in moments.

 

[fplowman]

On the 5th of may i found emergencey services and road crews blocking roads themselves.. Telling us we could not pass..

So us blocking a road is probably favorable would it not be? We are helping them by blocking the road.. really though.. Its just them being whinners.. I haev never seen a road BLOCKED and if emergency personell wants through they are never told they cant everyone moves.. Isnt this so.

Welcome to the new America!

 

[Dick McGowan]

There's nothing that says "Protect and Serve" like.....a sheriff writing chasers tickets while a tornado is on the ground.

 

[Brian Stertz]

Funny thing that day was that we chatted with a Trego Co. deputy sheriff who pulled up south of the countyline...and he was glad that we were around to explain what we were seeing as the supercell organized. I found no "ill will" there and was glad that he was interested in knowing what was going on. I guess not all of the LE types were stressed out that day.

 

[Justin E. Reed]

You can think the one's that are breaking the law, I have ABSOLUTELY NO REMORSE for those that get caught breaking the law. That's why we have them , you break it, ticket. I'd allow 10 over the speed limit, thats it, you all that speed like crazy(over 10) try and drive with one hand on the wheel and the other with a camera, and cut people off , ticket, hell, even jail time if you f up good enough. It's the yahoos and crazy a's that make it bad for everyone because I guess thats what they base this off of. Now for roadblocks, they are probably there for a dang good reason, don't get po'd because they're blocking your path, just turn around and find a different route, it's not the end of the world, theres always going to be more storms and tornadoes. Now for those that help out one's that got hit by a tornado or something and rescue and or comfort them, I wish I could give you all and award and I place you all on another level, that is above and beyond, Bravo zulu( military for stand up job).

 

[Skip Talbot]

A few chasers in the roadway shouldn't be a problem. That's why emergency vehicles have lights and sirens. If there is still road blockage, just plow right on through those tripods and push those cars into the ditch. Most chasers leave their engines running anyway, so they could also just move the cars manually too.